Etihad Stadium to host 5 Euro 2028 games

[Marvin.]

I don't drive never have and never will I am a traveller that uses the public transport system constantly.

I have found the local transport links to be particularly restrictive and shite, travelling hundreds of miles seems to be much easier than the last 5 miles leaving a city for a less built up area.

Last season after an 8 o'clock kick off I didn't get home until nearly 1am the next morning, the train takes about 25 minutes but it didn't help the train didn't turn up and no tannoy announcement was made.

Getting to Newcastle is easier for me than getting to Burnley even though it's infinitely nearer.

For midweek matches, there aren't any timetabled trains back to London after the game, that's restrictive.

The Etihad is 1.5 miles from Piccadilly train and bus stations. The 216 bus runs every 12 minutes. That's not restrictive. At the weekend, I come in from New Mills which is in the High Peak. I get a direct bus from New Mills Bus station into Connell College. There are about 20 similar match day bus services. I think it's obvious that the transport problems lie with car travel and train travel.

 

[TinFoilHat]

For midweek matches, there aren't any timetabled trains back to London after the game, that's restrictive.

The Etihad is 1.5 miles from Piccadilly train and bus stations. The 216 bus runs every 12 minutes. That's not restrictive. At the weekend, I come in from New Mills which is in the High Peak. I get a direct bus from New Mills Bus station into Connell College. There are about 20 similar match day bus services. I think it's obvious that the transport problems lie with car travel and train travel.

There's still time to change that.

Timetables are negotiated 18 months in advance.

I'll ask the question at work.

For the Olympics my company ran a 23 hour a day service to London. It was crewed by volunteers who were given a small shift allowance an app leave day per shift they covered.

 

[mexico1970]

For midweek matches, there aren't any timetabled trains back to London after the game, that's restrictive.

The Etihad is 1.5 miles from Piccadilly train and bus stations. The 216 bus runs every 12 minutes. That's not restrictive. At the weekend, I come in from New Mills which is in the High Peak. I get a direct bus from New Mills Bus station into Connell College. There are about 20 similar match day bus services. I think it's obvious that the transport problems lie with car travel and train travel.

I don't have that problem mate, it's always the local buses that fuck up. On top of the local trains it can be a nightmare.

 

[asahartford1]

The other week was my last visit to Villa Park unless we have a title decider there or something and I have to go through gritted teeth. What an asbolute shithole the stadium and the surrounding area is.

I go every year as it is a midlands match so easy for me.
The ground, at least where we are is terrible.
I usually get a pint near the ground, a working man's club, turned cheap hotel, using my trusted pin badge trick, 3 quid in, sky Sports etc . Same after the game, just show the ticket they give you before the game.
Birmingham City centre has some great old pubs if you know where to go.
As a ground 2/10 , would be generous.
I have always found the fans good. Though I wasn't at the Wembley game.

 

[JGL07]

Agreed. But some sort of temporary fix will have to apply for the Euros. The rail system in the UK is a laughing stock. Most of Europe has a 24 hours a day high speed rail network and extensive local public transport in all major cities. It is also cheap to use in most locations. We are 30 to 40 years behind and have crumbling infrastructure everywhere outside London,

‘Most of Europe has 24 hours a day high speed rail services’?

Well I never encountered this? Maybe parts of Germany do but I have never come across any City in Europe or anywhere else with such apart for local services in London and Singapore.

 

[Blue Mist]

For midweek matches, there aren't any timetabled trains back to London after the game, that's restrictive.

The Etihad is 1.5 miles from Piccadilly train and bus stations. The 216 bus runs every 12 minutes. That's not restrictive. At the weekend, I come in from New Mills which is in the High Peak. I get a direct bus from New Mills Bus station into Connell College. There are about 20 similar match day bus services. I think it's obvious that the transport problems lie with car travel and train travel.

The 20 or so match day buses are funded by the club (or subsidised) aren't they ?
If so, they won't be on for the euros.
Secondly bus services on general are poor, for the last Sunday match, when no trams were running from Alty the half hourly bus to town decided it couldn't be arsed turning up. People drive because public transport is so poor.

 

[Marvin.]

The 20 or so match day buses are funded by the club (or subsidised) aren't they ?
If so, they won't be on for the euros.
Secondly bus services on general are poor, for the last Sunday match, when no trams were running from Alty the half hourly bus to town decided it couldn't be arsed turning up. People drive because public transport is so poor.

I don't know if they are subsidised. I suspect they are run to breakeven. They carry about 700 City fans at present.

In general I agree that people still drive because public transport is poor but my point wrt to travel to the Etihad was that long distance public transport in midweek evenings is very difficult and it is influencing who attends City games. In my experience, travel in Greater Manchester to the city centre is straightforward because the networks are radial. Where there are likely problems if you want to travel East-West or North-South but that's not related to getting to the Etihad given that it's near the city centre.

 

[Blue Mist]

I don't know if they are subsidised. I suspect they are run to breakeven. They carry about 700 City fans at present.

In general I agree that people still drive because public transport is poor but my point wrt to travel to the Etihad was that long distance public transport in midweek evenings is very difficult and it is influencing who attends City games. In my experience, travel in Greater Manchester to the city centre is straightforward because the networks are radial. Where there are likely problems if you want to travel East-West or North-South but that's not related to getting to the Etihad given that it's near the city centre.

Apologies, I understand (a bit late :-) )
now what you meant and I agree.
Plus whatever the arrangement with the buses is, it is an excellent idea.